geek - ohm imagehttp://ohm-image.net/opinion/geek/Thu, 23 Aug 2018 08:31:36 +0000en-GBSite-Server v6.0.0-16734-16734 (http://www.squarespace.com)In: Mophie Juice Air - Out: Quad LockCasesohmThu, 08 Mar 2018 05:02:01 +0000http://ohm-image.net/opinion/geek/in-mophie-juice-air-out-quadlock502d756fe4b0ad2559801b56:548f823ae4b033a463bcd8b8:5aa0badf9140b75cb201818eFour years ago I purchased a Quad Lock case for my iPhone 6. From day one
the thing blew my mind. Its TPU chassis fastened to my bike, to my tripod,
and with the right accessories, to cars and arms, as securely as a bayonet
lens to a camera. I abused it both on and off road. It was wonderful. Now
and again I trumpet support of Quad Lock.

Four years ago I purchased a Quad Lock case for my iPhone 6. From day one the thing blew my mind. Its TPU chassis fastened to my bike, to my tripod, and with the right accessories, to cars and arms, as securely as a bayonet lens to a camera. I abused it both on and off road. It was wonderful. Now and again I trumpet support of Quad Lock.

It was a cinch to choose another after upgrading to an iPhone SE. Quad Locks are strong and really shock absorbent. But, like a hospital gown, the iPhone 5/SE Quad Lock is open in the back and will lett in every crumb and bit of dust in your pocket. A year and a half on my iPhone SE is a battle zone of pits and scars. Consequently it is worth far less on the used market. Yes, it was my choice to keep using the Quad Lock. This isn't a woe is me outrage tale. I accept responsibility. But it is clear that the iPhone 5/SE design is flawed. And still I love it.

Prompted by sudden battery woes, I went on a battery case hunt. Here in Japan, it still costs around 90$ to replace an iPhone's battery, and the turnaround time is a week. Rakuten had a great deal on Mophie's now-discontinued iPhone 5/SE Juice Air- and in white, no less. It connects to my computer via micro USB, and purportedly doubles my phone's battery life. And, its back is closed up nice and proper.

It's got a chin, and its as rounded as an iPhone 3G. Not pretty, but it's doing its job. Nevertheless, when next I upgrade my iPhone, I'll probably hop back to a Quad Lock- providing of course, that its back is sealed.

]]>In: Mophie Juice Air - Out: Quad LockSuper Famicom Classic - and unmodded beginninggamesohmFri, 23 Feb 2018 08:46:19 +0000http://ohm-image.net/opinion/geek/super-famicom-classic-and-unmodded-beginning502d756fe4b0ad2559801b56:548f823ae4b033a463bcd8b8:5a8fd326f9619a72e8ae1a04At Toy 'R Us a few days ago, my wife and I spotted the above beauty. I had
no idea it was back in stock. After picking it up, we jammed it into our
TV's USB port, and in short order developed thumb calluses the likes of
which neither of us have seen since age twelve.

At Toy 'R Us a few days ago, my wife and I spotted the above beauty. I had no idea it was back in stock. After picking it up, we jammed it into our TV's USB port, and in short order developed thumb calluses the likes of which neither of us have seen since age twelve.

While it's yet to be hacked to play my wife's favourite NES game - Jackal/Top Gunner - it will be. Oh, it will be. (I just have to figure out how to get a virtual machine running.) It's fair to say that Super Famicom Classic updates will be hitting ohm's front page soon.

The above image was shot on the Fujifilm GFX-50s/Cambo Actus GFX/Schneider APO Digitar 120/5,6 Makro in the leftover studio created to shoot the images seen in these posts:

In 2015 I toyed with vaping. Today I vape almost daily. My latest kit is the above Gang Mod from Vape Japan. The tank is a sub-ohm top-filling atomiser from X20. It is simple. And, it looks great in photos.

]]>STAR WARS Advent Day 16: E-3P0STAR WARS Advent Day 15: Tantive IVmoviesohmThu, 15 Dec 2016 11:40:10 +0000http://ohm-image.net/opinion/geek/star-wars-advent-day-15-tantive-iv502d756fe4b0ad2559801b56:548f823ae4b033a463bcd8b8:5851519d414fb5946db2e1f9LEGO nailed it. There's no way to look at this one and see anything but
Leia's famous Blockade Runner. Except that better minds call it the Tantive
IV. Right or wrong though my assumptions about its nomenclature may be,
this is an awesome piece. Awesome.

LEGO nailed it. There's no way to look at this one and see anything but Leia's famous Blockade Runner. Except that better minds call it the Tantive IV. Right or wrong though my assumptions about its nomenclature may be, this is an awesome piece. Awesome.

]]>STAR WARS Advent Day 15: Tantive IVSTAR WARS Advent Day 14: Obi Wan's Jedi StarfightermoviesohmWed, 14 Dec 2016 13:40:32 +0000http://ohm-image.net/opinion/geek/star-wars-advent-day-14-obi-wans-jedi-starfighter502d756fe4b0ad2559801b56:548f823ae4b033a463bcd8b8:58514aaab8a79b8f060b3320I thought the Venator-class Star Destroyer was an A-Wing. Jay's Brick Blog
thought this one was. When are we going to get an A-Wing? If you've played
X-Wing, you know: that thing is fast, manoeuvrable, and gosh... I want
one.

I thought the Venator-class Star Destroyer was an A-Wing. Jay's Brick Blog thought this one was. When are we going to get an A-Wing? If you've played X-Wing, you know: that thing is fast, manoeuvrable, and gosh... I want one.

]]>STAR WARS Advent Day 14: Obi Wan's Jedi StarfighterSTAR WARS Advent Day 13: Battle DroidmoviesohmTue, 13 Dec 2016 11:38:57 +0000http://ohm-image.net/opinion/geek/star-wars-advent-day-13-battle-droid502d756fe4b0ad2559801b56:548f823ae4b033a463bcd8b8:584fdb8815d5db0c959244c8My wife calls it cute. I consider it one of Lucas's most egregious
'comedic' additions. On the plus side, the one above is suicidal. Jay's
Brick Blog is more sanguine about the droids, but thinks they look goofy.

My wife calls it cute. I consider it one of Lucas's most egregious 'comedic' additions. On the plus side, the one above is suicidal. Jay's Brick Blog is more sanguine about the droids, but thinks they look goofy.

That out of the way, this is a great LEGO. it scales well to the other LEGO characters, and matches the movie/animation models as closely as a LEGO can. It comes with two arm sets: straight, with vertical-open hands ready to grip a blaster, and hands bent at the elbow, for object manipulation.

]]>STAR WARS Advent Day 13: Battle DroidSTAR WARS Advent Day 12: Droid GunshipmoviesohmMon, 12 Dec 2016 11:56:00 +0000http://ohm-image.net/opinion/geek/star-wars-advent-day-12-droid-gunship502d756fe4b0ad2559801b56:548f823ae4b033a463bcd8b8:584fdfac6a496329aeddbd86The droid gunship looks like an antlion. It's a cool piece, but it's ugly
as sin, and is more Episode III than I can or want to handle. LEGO could
have chosen something more from Hoth or from Jedi - anything but from
Revenge of the Sith.

The droid gunship looks like an antlion. It's a cool piece, but it's ugly as sin, and is more Episode III than I can or want to handle. LEGO could have chosen something more from Hoth or from Jedi - anything but from Revenge of the Sith.

The Venator-Class Star Destroyer is a cool idea. But up close, it's pretty chintzy and from a distance can look like any of the following: A-Wing, Luke Skywalker's speeder, or the TCS Concordia. Evidently, Jay (of Jay's Brick Blog) really likes it.

]]>STAR WARS Advent Day 10: Venator-Class Star DestroyerSTAR WARS Advent Day 9: Hoth Rebel TroopermoviesohmFri, 09 Dec 2016 12:00:22 +0000http://ohm-image.net/opinion/geek/star-wars-advent-day-9-hoth-rebel-trooper502d756fe4b0ad2559801b56:548f823ae4b033a463bcd8b8:584a9b6be4fcb59adb88a9cbFinally, we've got a rebel to man the P-Tower and Defence Turret. And
ultimately to fail in the face of imperial onslaught. Jay's Brick Blog have
another take on that narrative. Check it out.

Finally, we've got a rebel to man the P-Tower and Defence Turret. And ultimately to fail in the face of imperial onslaught. Jay's Brick Blog have another take on that narrative. Check it out.

]]>STAR WARS Advent Day 9: Hoth Rebel TrooperSTAR WARS Advent Day 8: FD P-TowermoviesohmThu, 08 Dec 2016 08:33:39 +0000http://ohm-image.net/opinion/geek/star-wars-advent-day-8-fd-p-tower502d756fe4b0ad2559801b56:548f823ae4b033a463bcd8b8:584919f320099ed16a26e3b6The FD P-Tower started out and ended with a splutter. Barely able to
disable large walkers, it got blown up fare more often than it helped the
rebellion fend off Imperial forces. As always, Jay's Brick Blog is the
place to go to see it in various angles and get more information.

The FD P-Tower started out and ended with a splutter. Barely able to disable large walkers, it got blown up fare more often than it helped the rebellion fend off Imperial forces. As always, Jay's Brick Blog is the place to go to see it in various angles and get more information.

]]>STAR WARS Advent Day 8: FD P-TowerSTAR WARS Advent Day 7: SnowmanmoviesohmWed, 07 Dec 2016 14:45:35 +0000http://ohm-image.net/opinion/geek/star-wars-advent-day-7-snowman502d756fe4b0ad2559801b56:548f823ae4b033a463bcd8b8:58481e9ad1758e8d60d14683Today's STAR WARS Lego Advent narrative is about powerlessness. The Bespin
Guard is powerless because he sucks. As Jay's Brick Blog points out, his
gun is the same piece used in fuel dispensers. He wears an elfin hat. He's
in schoolboy blue. And, in this situation, he's facing down the snowman.
Ugly as it is, its bazooka actually fires. As always, you'll find out more
about the snowman at Jay's Brick Blog.

Today's STAR WARS Lego Advent narrative is about powerlessness. The Bespin Guard is powerless because he sucks. As Jay's Brick Blog points out, his gun is the same piece used in fuel dispensers. He wears an elfin hat. He's in schoolboy blue. And, in this situation, he's facing down the snowman. Ugly as it is, its bazooka actually fires. As always, you'll find out more about the snowman at Jay's Brick Blog.

]]>STAR WARS Advent Day 7: SnowmanFireballed - John Gruber forgot about MacComputersohmWed, 07 Dec 2016 07:34:04 +0000http://ohm-image.net/opinion/geek/fireballed-john-gruber-forgot-about-mac502d756fe4b0ad2559801b56:548f823ae4b033a463bcd8b8:5847b4e6e6f2e130d85f50dfDaring Fireball, John Gruber's excellent Apple-centric blog is forgetting
its roots. Post-election, it breaks down like this: 43 posts, 17 of which
relate directly or indirectly to Trump, his supporters, the election,
Hilary, and/or ancillary political issues. Among the rest are adverts,
podcast-notices, and a few noteworthy Mac-related essays.

Daring Fireball, John Gruber's excellent Apple-centric blog is forgetting its roots. Post-election, it breaks down like this: 43 posts, 17 of which relate directly or indirectly to Trump, his supporters, the election, Hilary, and/or ancillary political issues. Among the rest are adverts, podcast-notices, and a few noteworthy Mac-related essays.

Last year, I skipped over Daring Fireball's advertisements, baseball news, and odd political polemic. Today, in order to read about the Mac, iPhone, ir other Apple business, I skip around half of the blog.

Daring Fireball has been on my daily read list since 2005. And barring John blogging more about white guilt, what he perceives to be social inequities, and other political humdrum, it will continue to be on my daily reading list.

Let's get back to the Mac, John.

]]>Fireballed - John Gruber forgot about MacSTAR WARS Advent Day 6: SnowtroopermoviesohmTue, 06 Dec 2016 08:18:34 +0000http://ohm-image.net/opinion/geek/star-wars-advent-day-6-snowtrooper502d756fe4b0ad2559801b56:548f823ae4b033a463bcd8b8:5846732b3e00be622f362ad6Jay's Brick Blog have a cool standoff, which you can see here: Day 6 –
Snowtrooper. It appears that we are all trying to construct a narrative
with the pieces thus far opened. The blurry bit behind is the Imperial Navy
Trooper, and the barely visible pile of rubble in front of the Snowtrooper
is a dismantled Tie Intercepter. To the left, and blurred to near
invisibility, is the ineffective Hoth Defence Turret.

Jay's Brick Blog have a cool standoff, which you can see here: Day 6 – Snowtrooper. It appears that we are all trying to construct a narrative with the pieces thus far opened. The blurry bit behind is the Imperial Navy Trooper, and the barely visible pile of rubble in front of the Snowtrooper is a dismantled Tie Intercepter. To the left, and blurred to near invisibility, is the ineffective Hoth Defence Turret.

]]>STAR WARS Advent Day 6: SnowtrooperSTAR WARS Advent Day 5: Hoth Defence TurretmoviesohmMon, 05 Dec 2016 02:51:00 +0000http://ohm-image.net/opinion/geek/star-wars-advent-day-5-hoth-defence-turret502d756fe4b0ad2559801b56:548f823ae4b033a463bcd8b8:5846279d29687f12c6fd6c9fNow that I've got a Tie Interceptor and an Imperial Navy Trooper at my
disposal, I decided to construct a capture narrative. As we know from The
Empire Strikes Back, the Hoth Defence Turrets didn't do much anyway.
If you want more information about the Hoth Defence Turret, head to Jay's
Brick Blog.

Now that I've got a Tie Interceptor and an Imperial Navy Trooper at my disposal, I decided to construct a capture narrative. As we know from The Empire Strikes Back, the Hoth Defence Turrets didn't do much anyway.

My love affair with the Tie Interceptor began with Lucas Arts's amazing flight sim, Tie Fighter. It was 1994 and my Packard Bell was barely able to cope. Its cutest incarnation is the above, Day 3's toy.

]]>STAR WARS Advent Day 3: Tie InterceptorSTAR WARS Advent Day 2: Bespin guardmoviesohmFri, 02 Dec 2016 11:30:08 +0000http://ohm-image.net/opinion/geek/star-wars-advent-day-2-bespin-guard502d756fe4b0ad2559801b56:548f823ae4b033a463bcd8b8:584158b2e3df28e47e284b73And, because I skipped yesterday, today has two entries, Slave 1 before
this post, and today's subject, a Bespin guard. At this point, I should
admit that I thought my Christmas LEGO STA WARS blog would be cute. I had
no idea that for some, it was a well-established online Christmas
tradition. Therefore, this post, the one before it, and everyone after,
will be nothing more than a cute aside to the the reas opus over at
Jaysbrickblog.

And, because I skipped yesterday, today has two entries, Slave 1 before this post, and today's subject, a Bespin guard. At this point, I should admit that I thought my Christmas LEGO STA WARS blog would be cute. I had no idea that for some, it was a well-established online Christmas tradition. Therefore, this post, the one before it, and everyone after, will be nothing more than a cute aside to the the reas opus over at Jaysbrickblog.

Yesterday, my daughter fell ill and my wife went next. As a wannabe-responsible dad, I had to shirk my first ever advent post. On my birthday, I received the 2016 STAR WARS advent calendar, which I've decided to shoot, piece by piece, and present, daily, on ohm.

Since there's isn't a legend inside, I'll just have to deduce to which universe and film series each piece belongs.

Day #1 appears to be : Slave One from Empire Strikes Back flying above a scarred aluminium surface. Below are close ups.